Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami have discovered that blocking the IL1RAP receptor can disrupt the inflammatory network that helps pancreatic cancer resist treatment. The study, published in Nature Cancer on June 22, 2026, shows that IL1RAP sits at a key control point in inflammatory signaling.
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, with a five-year survival rate of about 12%. The tumor microenvironment creates a protective inflammatory barrier that shields cancer cells from therapies. By targeting IL1RAP, the researchers were able to reduce tumor growth in preclinical models.
The team is now working to advance this approach toward a clinical trial. Dr. J. Silvio Gutkind, the study's senior author, stated, 'This is a completely new way to attack pancreatic cancer by cutting off its inflammatory support system.' The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
